Advances in Equine Science: Tack, Behavior, and Training
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2026 | Viewed by 212
Special Issue Editors
2. Ibikus Ltd., Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR, UK
Interests: equine welfare; orthopedics; sport; training; performance; injury prevention; equipment; horse/tack interface; rehabilitation; advanced imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Centaur Biomechanics, Dunstaffanage House, Moreton Morrell CV35 9BD, UK
Interests: welfare; saddle; bridle; training; equipment; performance; sport; injury prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
There is increasing recognition of the importance of understanding horse interaction with tack and equipment to optimize training performance and prevent injury, and to understand behavioral responses in training. Understanding tack/horse interaction can improve comfort for the horse and rider/trainer, and allow the horse to train more easily and productively, in a posture that may reduce the risk of injury.
This Special Issue focuses on the relationship between horse/tack and rider/tack interaction, optimizing training, and evaluating behavioral responses to training and tack. Understanding how horses interact with tack and equipment is key to improving comfort, performance, and injury prevention. Tailoring training methods for different sports and skill levels enhances both horse and rider fitness while minimizing injury risks. Recognizing behavioral responses to training and tack is essential for adjusting training approaches and equipment to ensure the horse's well-being and effectiveness.
We invite researchers to submit original research papers and reviews that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Horse/tack interaction (or horse/equipment interaction);
- Rider/tack interaction;
- Current training methods;
- Effect of more novel training methods;
- Impact of training on injury risk, type, or prevention;
- Impact of training on performance;
- Optimizing training for different sports and levels;
- Influence of training on horse and/or rider behavior;
- Recognizing behavioral indicators for horses doing different activities;
- Behavioral indicators for optimal and suboptimal training;
- Behavioral responses associated with optimal or suboptimal horse/tack or rider/tack interaction.
This Special Issue aims to expand knowledge on how these interconnected areas influence performance, comfort, and injury prevention.
Dr. Rachel C. Murray
Dr. Russell Mackechnie-Guire
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- equine
- tack and equipment
- training
- behavior
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